TY - JOUR
T1 - Inside qualitative, cross-national research
T2 - Making methods transparent in a EU housing study
AU - Quilgars, Deborah
AU - Elsinga, Marja
AU - Jones, Anwen
AU - Toussaint, Janneke
AU - Ruonavaara, Hannu
AU - Naumanen, Paivi
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - Over the last decade there has been a significant growth in comparative, cross-national research and recognition of its potential significance in responding to globalisation pressures. A range of methodological approaches have been documented. However, whilst a growing literature exists on undertaking comparative research generally, less has been published on the experiences of undertaking qualitative research in a cross-national context, particularly in social and housing policy. Qualitative research provides opportunities to gain more detailed understandings of behaviour, attitudes and experiences across countries, but it also raises some of the greatest challenges with respect to interpreting data. This article utilises an eight nation study on housing security and insecurity to make transparent some of the key issues raised in qualitative, cross-national work, including the selection of locations and interviewees, interviewing and analysing material within an institutional context. It argues that further critical sharing of research accounts is required in this important area.
AB - Over the last decade there has been a significant growth in comparative, cross-national research and recognition of its potential significance in responding to globalisation pressures. A range of methodological approaches have been documented. However, whilst a growing literature exists on undertaking comparative research generally, less has been published on the experiences of undertaking qualitative research in a cross-national context, particularly in social and housing policy. Qualitative research provides opportunities to gain more detailed understandings of behaviour, attitudes and experiences across countries, but it also raises some of the greatest challenges with respect to interpreting data. This article utilises an eight nation study on housing security and insecurity to make transparent some of the key issues raised in qualitative, cross-national work, including the selection of locations and interviewees, interviewing and analysing material within an institutional context. It argues that further critical sharing of research accounts is required in this important area.
KW - qualitative methods
KW - comparative
KW - cross-national
KW - housing
KW - Europe
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60849096385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13645570701804292
DO - 10.1080/13645570701804292
M3 - Article
SN - 1364-5579
VL - 12
SP - 19
EP - 31
JO - International Journal of Social Research Methodology
JF - International Journal of Social Research Methodology
IS - 1
ER -